The
San Diego Coaches Association has been really good to us this year. In the
past, getting information out of San Diego has been like pulling teeth, but this
year, we've gotten a slew of league and team capsule preview from our friends
down south.

The Mesa League is another all-Division I league,
which means that it has some of the largest talent pools in terms of enrollment
to draw upon. Are these the most talented teams in San Diego?
Mostly likely not, but they will all compete and there are some excellent
players, including guys like Keith Spencer
(Eastlake), Mark Burns (Chula Vista), Dwight Gooding (Bonita Vista), Jordan
Rosure (Sweetwater), and Louie Trujillo (Sweetwater). What follows are previews and predictions from the Coaches' Assn.
(no, these picks are not ours), for the Mesa League of the Metropolitan
Conference, including some
pre-season picks for MVP and All-League players. Teams are listed in the
order of finish; again these are the Coaches' Association's picks, so if you
don't like them, blame them, not us.

Head Coach: Alex
Estrada (4th Year)Last year’s record: 16 – 13 (7 – 1, 1st in South Bay)Last year’s playoffs: Lost in quarterfinals.Key players: Keith Spencer (Sr, 6’06"), Craig Jackson (Jr, 5’10")Losses to overcome: Tim Ross (graduation), Troy Owens (graduation),
Rafik Henderson (transferred to Horizon)Summary: Spencer is a versatile athlete who will help the Titans
inside, while Jackson is a solid lead guard. After winning the South Bay
league title last year, Eastlake should manage to still come out on top of the
tougher Mesa League.

Head Coach:
David Ybarra (19th Year)Last year’s record: 11 – 16 (3 – 5, tied for 3rd)Last year’s playoffs: NoneKey players: Louie Trujillo (Sr, 6’00"), Jordan Rosure (Sr, 6’01"),
Tommy Wong (Sr, 5’11")Losses to overcome: Curtis White (graduation), Carlos Martinez
(graduation)Summary: Trujillo and Rosure form the best backcourt in the league, and
can fill it up from the perimenter on any given night. If the Red Devils can
find someone to do the dirty work inside, then they will give Eastlake a
strong challenge for the league crown.

Head Coach:
Garrard Galvan (1st Year)Last year’s record: 17 – 11 (4 – 4, 2nd)Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1st round.Key players: Mark Burns (Sr, 5’11"), Nathan Flowers (Jr, 6’04"), Kevin
Davies (Sr, 5’08")Losses to overcome: Paul Milligan (graduation), Ray Stribling
(graduation)Summary: Burns is a quality guard who will have to carry the load with
the departure of Milligan. The Spartans will be young and lack some size but
will surprise people on certain nights.

Head Coach:
George Anderson (13th Year)Last year’s record: 15 – 12 (2 – 6, 5th)Last year’s playoffs: None Key players: Robert Whaley (Jr, 5’09"), Andre Phillip (So, 5’09"),
Peter Armada (So, 5’08")Losses to overcome: Ian Pizarro (graduation), Larry Wofford
(graduation)Summary: The loss of the Aztecs’ only size in Pizarro and Wofford will
make it even more difficult for them to climb out of the cellar. Whaley is a
returning starter who can only hope that the Aztecs’ young players mature
quickly.